Comments

• On the article Del. Albo Recognized with Three Service Awards By Virginia Chamber of Commerce

  elizabeth

  7:42 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013

  Congratulations to Delegate Albo, well deserved!

  Reply

• On the article Schools Urge Fairfax Board to Keep Instructional Coaches

  

  elizabeth

  9:59 pm on Wednesday, May 15, 2013

  A consultant for certain matters is hired because MS OTERSEN people like you demand so due to continued rants of system bias or inappropriate information. The system can't win with people like you , but I bet they still educated your kids without bias about you.

• On the article Schools Urge Fairfax Board to Keep Instructional Coaches

  elizabeth

  1:55 pm on Wednesday, May 15, 2013

  Kathy, in your posts you allude to terrible waste at Gatehouse, can you be specific? Many countries, to be specific in Europe, China, Japan, etc., place an emphasis on knowing and understanding languages and cultures. In a global, economic environment should not this system be stressing language efficiencies and an understanding of other cultures so that our students, when older, can successfully work in the "global" environment? Placing our heads in the sand and pretending languages are not important is like operating with blinders on. I really want to know where that waste is in Gatehouse? No doubt there may be some efficiencies that can be made but to make a general statement of waste....well do tell.

  Reply

• On the article Schools Urge Fairfax Board to Keep Instructional Coaches

  elizabeth

  7:57 am on Wednesday, May 15, 2013

  It is a shame that each year the public, to include teachers, have to beg for funding. The current funding system for FCPS appears archaic. We have one of the largest school systems in the nation and each year it becomes increasingly underfunded, leading to instruction that is ineffective for this county's diverse student population of many needs. The stress placed on our teachers is considerable and the days of a teacher leaving when the "bell is rung" is long gone.

  The County residents and most importantly the Board of Supervisors needs to adjust to the changing needs of education in this county. The Board of Supervisors holds these purse strings and until they realize the significance of the educational needs in this county, people like Dr. Lipp and many others who have a passion for education and children will be at a loss.

  Dr. Lipp is recognized for her excellence in education in this system, her words last night were meaningful and should not be diminished by those who determine funding needs and allocations. South County HS is a school where diversity (economic and social) works because of her leadership and the teachers in that school and community.

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• On the article Fairfax County Superintendent Jack Dale Recovering from Heart Surgery

  elizabeth

  9:56 am on Monday, May 13, 2013

  Some how, perhaps due to the birth of "social media", our society has lost touch with empathy, etiquette and simple decency. Mr. Wright's comments are very harsh and they demonstrate little knowledge about our school system and those who have spent a career educating our country's future.

  Poor choice of words Mr. Wright and one can only hope your parenting skills are better than your writing skills and apparent disposition.

  Reply

• On the article Fairfax County School Board Makes Superintendent Pick

  elizabeth

  7:48 am on Thursday, April 11, 2013

  Thinking about the entire process one has to wonder out of the entire US and perhaps elsewhere there were ONLY 47 applicants. What is that saying about our system? Is it too big to manage properly, is our School Board too dysfunctional to work with due to their continued promotion of specail interest groups instead of the education of our students, or should we have looked in another direction towards organization structure and changes? All that being said Ms. Garza will be challenged and she should be given the opportunity to prove her skills and challenge all our students. This may be hard to do with a School Board that has been consistently dumbing down our curriculum.

  Reply

• On the article Fairfax Superintendent: Candidate Can 'Bring Everyone Together in a Common Mission'

  elizabeth

  11:10 pm on Wednesday, April 10, 2013

  Funny, I have found Mr. Moon thoughtful, and in the years I have watched the School Board he seems to attend more meetings than most, goes to all types of events for students and listens before making any judgements. I think you are off base Catherine, but then you have been so in many of your posts about education in the past.

  Reply

• On the article Lorton's Workhouse Arts Center 'Challenged By Financial Model,' says CEO

  elizabeth

  7:53 am on Friday, April 5, 2013

  The Workhouse provides a wonderful opportunity for residentis in Fairfax County and neighboring counties to have an Arts center within close proximity to where they live. However it will not survive with current funding arrangements if they remain the same and this was told to the Board and others years ago when this idea was being discussed. The supposed historic nature of the buildings is costly to maintain and we have a county government that continues to promote other arts centers (Reston area) in the county which takes away funds and interest in the Lorton Arts Workhouse. The Lorton Arts Workhouse was to be "the" destination for those interested in arts in this county. The support from the county fell short and the lack of a realistic budget with the need for a "for profit" mentality leaves this arts center in peril for the future.

  Reply

• On the article Sen. George Barker: Transportation Bill Made 2013 General Assembly Session a Success

  elizabeth

  10:11 am on Thursday, March 21, 2013

  Senator Barker has increased taxes on those of us considered to be middle class. This bill has a tax in it for all homeowners in certain locations in the state to include Fairfax and Prince William Counties. His position on the health care is one that again will tax the middle clas. I fail to see the good here.

  Reply

• On the article Fairfax County Teachers: 'I Can't Sustain This'

  elizabeth

  7:49 am on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

  Patty, I agree, you and your peers have worked hard for your positions to teach. However "Bond" does have a point and that is you do have some very good benefits in your profession. You have a good health care program worth thousands of dollars and an excellent retirement program with the county and state. These benefits along with others are valued at thousands of dollars. Such compensation cannot be overlooked during a debate on income.
  I just read the County Executive is calling for a raise in taxation for residents and no pay increase for county employees. These are very difficult economic times. I am college educated have kept up with the needs of my profession and I do not get the benefits that you do nor am I seeing any increases in salary.

  Your associations would be better served to discuss the workload than salary increases. I do not see overwhelming sympathy on this blog for salary increases. The issues for teachers is the delivery of education.

  Reply